"Galar."

That region had given Howard more headaches in the last year than any other region. Remiel Calcifet and the royal family had spread their tendrils into this region, and for what? Power? Authority? Political leverage? He wondered what had spurred Remiel to join Rocket and the Pokémon League.

What drove a man who had it all to raze it to the ground, besides idiocy?

"Hoenn is rotting. We're standing in the festering wound as we speak. The world is breaking apart, and here we are discussing a revolution in a country far away. The weight of royalty." A trail of smoke extended towards the ceiling like a grasping finger, before disappearing into an air vent.

"Our struggle is greater than that of a succession war. We're living through an era of gods and monsters, with no room for humanity."

Silence. Howard waited for the flame in his cigarette to die. A blaze became a spark, then the spark died and left nothing but cold in its place.

"Diana."

---

Diana Cavendish

"No. I wish nothing of the sort."

The cigarette left his lips as he held it in his fingers. There was no need to relight it. It had served its purpose, much like this conversation had. "You disapprove of my tone and my perspective. That's clear to me."

That was fine. Howard disapproved of half of the nonsense that Rocket got up to now. He wondered if the old Rocket had gotten up to similar exploits during their conquest of Kanto and their war in Johto. If so, Kanto's defeat was less of a tragedy and more of a comedy.

But under his direct gaze?

"But you will not storm away like a child. You're not some Galarian princess while you're here, you're one of us. You will work for our cause, bleed for our cause, and fight for our cause. Remember your rank, Diana."

His eye bore into hers. The mask of a casual superior was discarded. In its place was the mask of the Rocket Admin he had once loathed to become.

"Enjoy your break." He said as he walked off, leaving the faint trail of smoke behind him.

---

Diana Cavendish